Palo Alto Networks ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewalls and Prisma Cloud security solutions are American Hospital Association Preferred Cybersecurity Services.
As we look back on 2020, we see a year filled with stories of healthcare organizations and providers stepping up to face ceaseless challenges. Behind the scenes, technology teams were working around the clock to essentially reshape the healthcare IT enterprise in realtime. New ideas were accelerated, pilot programs scaled, and collaboration became more critical than ever. I have seen firsthand in my local community how healthcare organizations have continued to evolve during these trying times. In my current charter as a global leader for healthcare strategy and solutions at Palo Alto Networks, I am humbled and more importantly, extremely motivated to find innovative ways of helping healthcare organizations drive improved clinical outcomes and better patient engagement.
The ongoing pandemic put significant strains on healthcare organizations, thereby making them more vulnerable to outside threats. In fact, last year, in the midst of a surging COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare sector was the top target of cyber extortionists, according to data from the 2021 Unit 42 Ransomware Threat Report. More so, the cost of ransomware attacks against U.S. healthcare organizations doubled to $20.8 billion in 2020, according to an annual report by Comparitech. These security challenges made the healthcare industry’s job increasingly difficult as organizations faced unprecedented financial and operational demands in the midst of the pandemic.
The Start of a Timely Partnership
In the midst of these challenges, Palo Alto Networks has doubled down on its longstanding commitment to make the healthcare industry more secure. One key component was a new partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA). We are now a member of the AHA Preferred Cybersecurity Provider (APCP) program, a prestigious designation given to select vendors that meet strict vetting requirements. As a result, the AHA has recommended that AHA members use our industry-leading ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewall and Prisma Cloud security solutions. The APCP program directs AHA members to firms that provide exceptional cybersecurity technology and services.
Partnering with the AHA and its members provides us an opportunity to help healthcare organizations approach complex security challenges by addressing one challenge at a time. Our approach includes:
Protecting Services Delivered Outside the Traditional Enterprise
Whether it’s remote users accessing mission-critical business tools or care teams operating in the community, success demands high-quality and high-compliance technology experiences. These carefully balance performance with patient privacy and data security.
Simplifying Security Across Diverse Application Bases
Healthcare organizations are delivering applications across a hybrid multicloud infrastructure that brings legacy and future together. A single set of views and tools can help simplify the hard work of monitoring threats and managing defenses.
Improving Readiness Through Modernization
While cybersecurity talent gaps remain significant, better risk management goes beyond headcount concerns to look at how automation and augmented intelligence can help teams keep pace with evolving threats.
We know that healthcare technology is growing deeper in complexity and wider in reach. This means more users, newer applications, more connected devices – and higher expectations on all three. Even as innovation helps us be safer, each week brings a new breach.
Tomorrow’s Healthcare Security: Visibility Is Fundamental
Palo Alto Networks remains realistically optimistic about the future. As threats get more sophisticated and attack surfaces grow, we’re focused on solutions that will yield cumulative, near-exponential gains in security posture over time. This will enable organizations to reshape service delivery, embrace new technologies, and continue to deliver better experiences – all while staying confident and compliant.
Just like the healthcare cybersecurity teams we serve, we’re aimed at an always-moving target. Our customers work to protect their organizations and assets against a threat landscape that’s forever in motion. That’s why we’re always focused on bringing our own expertise to the development of new capabilities and controls.
We look forward to serving the AHA mission and its members.
To learn more about how healthcare organizations can adapt to new threat realities, join our own MK Palmore, CSO, Americas, and John Riggi, AHA’s Senior Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk Advisory, in an upcoming webinar discussing the partnership to protect the digital future of healthcare.
Tapan Mehta is global leader, healthcare strategy and solutions, for Palo Alto Networks.